Left the house at 5:00 a.m. with my buddy Jim. Our intentions were to hit a small stream for rainbows and browns. We were in the water by 7:00. However, we were disappointed to see the just how low the water was since our last trip 2 weeks ago. After spending about 2 hours at our original destination catching one rainbow and spooking at least 30 fish we decided the low water just wasn't worth it. We either needed to find a little better water somewhere else or call it a day. Jim had never caught a N.C. brookie, so I decided we would head out to a small stream that doesn't get fished much. I figured the water there would be equally as low, but it might be a little easier to get a few brookies. When we got to our next destination, the water was also very low, but still very cool. I don't carry a thermometer but I can't imagine this water was over 60 degrees. Jim tied on a small EHC and immediately started getting bites, which made me switch from my nymph to a EHC as well and I started having more success as well. Even the brookies were more spooky than I have ever seen them, but we managed to catch a few. All the fish we landed were small, but Jim missed one on the EHC that was in the 7-8" range. At the end of the day I tied on a Helgramite, added some split shot and tossed it in at the base of a little water fall that was probably 6-7' deep. I got a bite, set the hook and pulled a brookie up to the surface that I'm confident was 10", but he flipped off before I could get him in the net. It was the biggest brookie I have ever seen. It was a great day, with a few fish caught, but I wouldn't classify the fishing as excellent right now, just average in my mind. Enjoy the pictures.

Hopefully we'll get some rain soon. If things continue like this I can't imagine what will be left of these streams in August. It was still a great day on the water. Jim has now completed the N.C. slam, just not in the same day.